As Tom Kane continues to try to keep a grip on his city and life, the Boss TV series struggles to attract an audience. Will Boss be cancelled or renewed for a third season of Starz? That’s an even bigger challenge thank Kane’s.
Airing on Friday nights, Boss revolves around the Mayor of Chicago (Kelsey Grammer) who’s recently been diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder. Determined to remain in charge, he conceals the disease from everyone around him except his physician. The Starz TV show also features the talents of Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner, Kathleen Robertson, Troy Garity, Rotimi, Jonathan Groff, and Sanaa Lathan.
It’s no secret that the TV series struggled in its first season. Despite sporting some top talent, the viewers and ratings just weren’t there. Luckily for the cast and crew, the show was renewed for a second season weeks before the show even premiered. Had the cable channel waited to see how well Boss would perform before making a decision, it’s hard to believe we’d be seeing a second season now.
Last month, at The Television Critics Association press tour, Boss showrunner Farhad Safinia said, “I am completely aware of what the numbers are, and I’m heartbroken… It’s one of those things where you’d like more people to see what you’re doing… I do hope the audience comes to see it so we can tell the entire story. I think we just have to work on that assumption that we will get to do it.”
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The ratings were so low for the first season of Boss that they’re often very difficult to locate. We do know that Boss premiered last October to 659,000 viewers and by the middle of the run had fallen to 250,000.
Season two certainly hasn’t been bringing any better ratings. The August 24th installment drew just 229,000 viewers and the season has averaged only 310,000. Earlier this year, the second season of Spartacus averaged 1.35 million on Friday nights in the same timelot.
It seems highly unlikely that Starz will be bringing back Boss for a third season. These numbers are just incredibly small for an expensive scripted drama.
On the positive side, Safinia has indicated that they plot each season like a movie so that each has a beginning, middle, and end. While it’s very likely that Boss will be cancelled, at least the show’s loyal viewers will be given at least some kind of resolution by the end of the season. Season two wraps on October 19th.
What do you think? Do you like the Boss TV series? Why do you think it hasn’t caught on with a bigger audience? Should it be renewed for a third season or cancelled?
I really hope Boss is renewed for season 3. The show is brilliantly written and the acting is superb. Kelsey Grammer is nothing short of amazing in this drama! Political dramas typically have trouble attracting an audience, and I think that may be part of the problem. Also, many cable companies do not offer the Starz network. The show is the best on television, and it certainly deserves a third season!
Let’s hope they renew the series for a third season. This show is very unique and compelling. The acting is top notch and the episodes are excellent. I agree with others that the season 2 finale did not leave us satisfied. Starz needs to bring back this show, this is honestly the only reason that I have kept the Starz network this past year, certainly not for the constant re-airing of second rate movies.
Boss is one of the best shows on TV. Kelsey Grammar is outstanding and I can’t believe he hasn’t won an Emmy for his portrayel of Tom Kane. His character is the most rutheless person in the history of TV. Season 2 cannot be the finale. Please Starz renew this for another season. It is the most well written, thought provoking TV/Drama on TV. I love Boss.
To Those of us who seek out quality on TV, this program is just riveting. I cannot believe that these audience numbers are correct. It’s happened many times before, though- cancellation of very good programing. I will be very disappointed if this drama is cancelled and so will many people I know.
This is such a GREAT show! A little heavy-handed in terms of its Shakespearean allusions, but overall a very compelling, beautifully-composed show. I really hope they renew it for season 3, despite the deceptive ratings. If it sadly doesn’t get renewed, this is the type of show that will slowly but steadily gain acclaim and end up becoming popular on DVD (and people will say, “I can’t believe they cancelled this show!”). I really hope the cable network recognizes how good this show is and keeps running with it. Good programs deserve some faith – I am sure some of… Read more »
Keep Boss on please !!! I don’t know how they
Figure out viewers but thier numbers are wrong
Please renew Boss for another season. Heck, I say keep it forever! (Will these posts be read by the Starz network?) The best series are always on cable without question. I’m paying for cable and I expect to have entertaining shows and movies to watch. Cable shows deliver a ‘punch’ that is unseen and unimaginable on network t.v. besides that on cable THERE ARE NO COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTIONS!
Even for me (i live in the Netherlands and speak native Dutch) this show is one of the best i’ve ever seen. Sometimes hard to translate :-), i really love it and would like to see a third season!
Boss is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a longtime! All that’s out there now is a whole bunch of stupid reality shows. The writing and acting of this show is superb. Please don’t cancel it myself and a whole lot of other people will have nothing to look forward to on Fridays!! #teamBoss
Boss is my favorite show! That it may be canceled is disturbing as this show combines exceptional script-writing with superb acting talent. The characters are brilliantly played by the cast. I do believe the subject matter may interest a more mature audience than say “Dexter” or “Homeland” but to deprive the audience of this gem would be very disappointing. As pay channels are supposed to provide a variety of programs to appeal to a very diverse group, youth thru adulthood, “Boss” should be allowed to continue to enthrall itsfans.
Truly one of the best shows ever. Keeps me at the edge of my seat every episode. The depths and complexity of this series is outstanding. To sad that most ppl cant bother to enjoy something that makes them having to think and feel a bit more than they’re used to.
and NO , despite what the above article says , the 10th episode of season II does not constitue a potential or satisfying series ending by ANY stretch of imagination
if there is no season 3 of ten episodes , they should at least bring a few more episodes to conclude the show like it was done for breaking bad
Harold
I think this is not your regular mainstream TV show . which means that given enough time it will get more viewers and/or may do well in other markets
It also should do well in DVD sales . I think it should definitely get a third season
Please…please…please….season 3. Boss is one of the 3 best tv dramas…ever…and I am a tv junkie……I wish Kelsey Grammer was in politics for real…..I love this series….I am praying for a season 3. Seriously….I wrote to Showtime… And called Showtime..I wrote to 3 nursing journals trying to get Nurse Jackie off the air. I had letters to the editors encouraging people NOT to watch nurse Jackie….BOSS is just so well written and acted…that I googled to see if another season was planned. I know I am just ONE viewer…but, I am I have a brain…and I appreciate EXCELLENCE when I… Read more »
Boss should be renewed for Season 3. It is one the best acted shows on television. I would never have believed that Kelsey Grammar could not be Frasier Crane, but he is just an incredible actor and utterly persuasive. Everyone in the cast is superb, and the story lines are fascinating.